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TheFoothillsFocus.com
The Foothills Focus
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July 31, 2019
Arts Column
Essential act of recognition
BY SHEA STANFIELD ARTS COLUMNIST
American photographer, Duane Michals wrote, “Photography is essentially an act of recognition, not of invention.” No one knows this better than local image-maker, Michael Moretti, who has called Arizona his home since his beginnings. Growing up in a time when space between valley communities was green with orchards, vast fields of cotton and irrigating channels available for wading on a scorching summer day. Michael’s objective
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in his art is, “Not merely to record a landscape but share the temperament of a scene for others to enjoy.” Although Phoenix is literally his home base, Michael has travelled far and wide over the years, always relieved to return to Arizona. He remembers as a young child his siblings having the most influence on him “artistically” with their music that was a backdrop to everyday activities. Michael does not make the distinction between the arts; music is just another expression of creativity.
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This attitude is still with him today. Michael recalls that he’s always “seen” things a little differently than others, many times by choice. For example, when Michael’s parents determined he needed glasses to sharpen up his focus on the world. The journey with glasses perched on his nose lasted only a few weeks before Michael decided to return to his “soft focus” interpretation, ditching his specs. Approaching his late teens, Michael developed an interest in photography spurred on by his family’s subscription to the Arizona Highways magazine.
“I spent hours admiring the amazing photographs and found a new appreciation for the importance of crisp details in the images sharp focus,” he said. Michael’s interest in capturing the awe-inspiring landscapes and wildlife of Arizona’s native lands continued into college. He enrolled in photography classes, built his own dark room and went to work creating his own masterpieces. Eventually making a living would get the way, time in the darkroom became less as Michael moved into his profession as a craftsman, remodeling and maintaining homes in the Phoenix area. Six years ago, Michael enrolled in a class taught by local photographer and Arizona Highways contributor, Jerry Sieve at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC). The mentor had arrived and this time it was not back to the darkroom for Michael, but to digital photography and Photoshop. New interest was born! Now when Michael breaks away from his “day job” he enjoys traveling to the Verde River where he can capture an abundance of wildlife in his frames. For longer trips he favors the ever-changing colors of the state’s vast wind swept landscapes.
He readily admits that not every trip yields what he considers that one magnificently awe-inspiring image, but he has long since ceased stressing over what appears in his frames at the end of the day. He’s learned, “With patience and a little faith noteworthy images just begin to show up.” Apparently, the “let go and let it be” approach has proven the most successful in Michael Moretti’s images. Since 2013 his photographs have been exhibited, each semester, at PVCC, as an emerging artist. Music still plays a part in Michael’s creative expression. He has developed a multimedia presentation with images placed to music, “bringing the glory of place into full view for all the senses.” Recently, Michael Moretti’s photography was on display at the Desert Foothills Library for their annual photography exhibit, where he was awarded first place for his amazingly detailed works. Contact Michael on his email at: michaelmorettiimages@ yahoo.com to arrange a viewing of his vast array of breathtaking images. You can contact Arts Columnist Shea Stanfield on her email at: flowingquill@yahoo.com.